2024 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 3

NEW ORLEANS – An upset-filled weekend!

Here is the Week 3 edition of the NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2024 season, as released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Regional Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weight returning team’s strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. Teams with provisional status within the region may be ranked.

Regional Championship Friday is set for Friday, November 15.

GREAT LAKES REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Wisconsin

Also in the hunt: No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Toledo, No. 5 Michigan

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 teams.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Georgetown, No. 2 Penn State

Also in the hunt: No. 3 Villanova, No. 4 West Virginia, No. 5 Princeton

Notes: While the top three teams in the region didn’t change, West Virginia came out on top of a competitive field at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic in Louisville, Kentucky, to soar six spots from No. 10 to No. 4 in Week 3. Led by eight-time All-American Ceili McCabe, who ran 16:06 over 5k to win the individual title, the Mountaineers put five runners in the top-12 to comfortably win the team title over Clemson (RV) by over 60 points.

MIDWEST REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Minnesota

Also in the hunt: No. 3  Northwestern, No. 4 Iowa State, No. 5 tulsa

Notes: Both the No. 1 and No. 5 teams stayed put this week, but Minnesota took it on themselves to shake things up at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invite in Chicago, Illinois.

In their biggest test of the season up to this point, the Golden Gophers finished third behind Alabama (No. 15) and NC State (No. 1). Ali Weimer finished ninth in a crowded field, clocking 19:46 for 6k, a 42-second personal best. Minnesota also beat No. 29 Texas by over 50 points. 

Northwestern, Iowa State, and Tulsa round out the top-5.

MOUNTAIN REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2  BYU

Also in the hunt: No. 3 Utah, No. 4 New Mexico, No. 5 Utah Valley

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 teams, but Northern Arizona and BYU went head-to-head at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and finished in that order.

NORTHEAST REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Providence, No. 2 Syracuse

Also in the hunt: No. 3 Boston College, No. 4, No. 5 Connecticut

Notes: Although there were no changes to the top-5 teams, both Harvard and Connecticut made notable statements at the Lehigh Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Despite the trio of Huskies in the top-10, including individual champion Chloe Thomas, Harvard’s 14-second spread proved lethal in the end. Harvard took home the team title after putting five runners ahead of Connecticut’s fifth-runner. The Crimson held off the Huskies, 134-148. 

SOUTH REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Alabama

Also in the hunt: No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 Lipscomb

Notes: After a week off of racing, the top-ranked Florida Gators held firm at No. 1, while the rest of the top-5 looks brand new. Following their eye-opening win over three-time defending champions NC State at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational, Alabama overtook Tennessee for the No. 2 spot. The Crimson Tide trio of Doris Lemngole, Brenda Tuwei, and Pheline Cheruto finished 1-3-5, enough to take down the Wolfpack, 57-71.

Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Lipscomb all dropped back a spot to round out the top-5 teams. 

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Tulane

Also in the hunt: No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Arkansas, No. 5 SMU

Notes: After taking the region’s top spot in Week 2, Texas kept their No. 1 ranking for the second week in a row. Behind the Longhorns, Tulane jumped all the way up to No. 2 after finishing eight points back of the Longhorns at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational. The Green Wave were led by Caroline Jeptanui, who finished runner-up in 19:04 for her first-ever 6k. 

LSU, Arkansas, and SMU fill out the rest of the top five, while Texas A&M got bumped to No. 6.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 NC State, No. 2 Furman

Also in the hunt: No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Virginia, No. 5 Clemson

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 teams.

WEST REGION

Projected AQs: No. 1 Washington, No. 2 Stanford

Also in the hunt: No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Boise State

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 teams.

Maxx Bradley is a freelance writer with a deep passion for track and field and cross country. Over the past few years, he has dedicated himself to covering the sport he has loved since middle school, contributing to both FloTrack and MileSplit. Additionally, Maxx writes The Lead Pack, a newsletter focused on the sport throughout Kansas. He resides in the KC Metro area and works as a Communications Specialist at Baker University.